COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina has announced hiring three new head coaches for three of the school's teams.
According to a statement from USC Athletics Director Ray Tanner released on Tuesday, Paul Mainieri is the new baseball coach, Ashley Chastain will lead the softball team, and Rob Bradley will coach the men's golf team.
Mainieri was approved for $1.3 million in annual compensation in a contract that lasts through the 2029 season. USC described him as the active leader in career wins in Division I with 1,505 victories.
“One can judge his success through his many championships, SEC and NCAA," Tanner said. "But I see the impact he has made on young men and know he can have that same success here as has achieved in his career.”
Officials said he guided Louisiana State University to a 2009 national championship and a 2017 runner-up finish. He also has six College World Series appearances, five with LSU and another with Notre Dame, four Southeastern Conference championships, six SEC Tournament championships and 10 NCAA regional championships. Mainieri was with LSU for 15 seasons.
“I coached and competed against Ray Tanner for years and always had the greatest respect for him and the USC program," Mainieri said. "To now join with him on the same team and become a part of this program was simply something from which I could not walk away."
Mainieri is retaining associate head coach and hitting coach Monte Lee at $550,000 yearly compensation, adding pitching coach and coordinator Terry Rooney at $425,000, and assistant coach John Hendry.
RELATED: US opts for experience and versatility on Olympic women's basketball roster, passes on Caitlin Clark
The university signed Chastain, a former USC student-athlete, to a $300,000-a-year contract to lead the softball program through 2029. Chastain was the head coach of the Charlotte 49ers for the last five seasons, with a 154-96 overall record and a 65-32 conference mark. She also led the team to two NCAA post-seasons.
“She has had success in every stop of her coaching career," Tanner said. "It is exciting to bring back a South Carolina alum to lead our softball program.”
USC added that Chastain's teams were ranked in the RPI Top 25 each season and never below 38th.
"As an alumna, this university and program hold a special place in my heart, and I am committed to building on its proud tradition," Chastain said in a statement provided to WLTX.
Bradley will serve as South Carolina's head men's golf coach and receive $240,000 annually through 2029. USC said Bradley led the Purdue University men's golf team to nine NCAA regionals and four NCAA championship appearances over 11 seasons. He also recently led the Boilermakers this season to a third-place finish in the Big Ten Championship and a second-place finish in the NCAA West Lafayette Regional, which sent the program to the NCAA Championship for the 30th time. The university finished in the top three in eight of 12 events from 2023 to 2024.
“After visiting with Rob Bradley, it became clear that he has the passion, vision and positive outlook to lead our men’s golf program,” Tanner said. “His success as someone who can build a program and develop young men is well-documented."
Bradley thanked Tanner for the opportunity.
The SEC is a golf powerhouse, and I’m looking forward to competing against the best teams in college golf," he said. "South Carolina is synonymous in the game of golf, and it’s important for me to build strong relationships across the state."